I was speaking to a good friend and business colleague recently, and we were talking about the highs and lows of being in business and we all have them. We just hope there are more highs than lows and if you are running your business in the right way, there will be more highs – if there are not then maybe you are not doing something right.
You need to make sure you always end each day on a high as finishing on a low and starting the next day with that same low in your mind will not set you up right. Finish on a high and the next day will start on a high.
When business seems to be going backwards, think of this analogy.
An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When business and life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming.
Maintaining focus is vital for success as is having a positive attitude. You need to focus with the end goal in mind and cannot allow anything to detract from this goal.
When I ran the London Marathon for the first time in 2004 at age 47, I had trained to complete it and there was no way I was not going to finish. My focus through the whole 12 months training up to the day was on my friends who were running with me, the people who had sponsored me and the Charity we were running for. On all my training runs, I ran with the right attitude to make sure I gave myself every chance of completing the event.
We all go through our regular dose of crap in business and life and it is important to remember it is not what happens to us, but how we react to it. We must react positively and maintaining focus – no matter what – will help us.
The current health issue the world is going through is probably the toughest time you have been through and possibly ever going to go through, so your business could well be going backwards. This is where you really need to be creative, think of different ways of doing what you do or expand your offerings. Put processes in place to help you not only get through this issue, but to come out stronger once we are through it. The new processes you put in place should then be something you keep on board as an extra service. Don’t just do it for the short term. If you let external circumstances control you and you sit and do nothing, you may not get through this, and you certainly will not be prepared when it happens again – and it will. The “What ifs” always will.
It is also vital to make sure we surround ourselves with positive, upbeat people and not people who are going to constantly try and drag us down. Association with the right people will have a massive impact on the success of your business and also will help you maintain the focus.
Use the next few weeks and months wisely. Stay positive – it wont be easy at times – and always be looking for opportunities. Those who are the most creative will come through this so much stronger that when they went into it
If you need to call me just to have a chat or bounce ideas off me, I am on 07798 632173 or richard@lionheartmanagement.co.uk or you can find Richard Lionheart Knight on LinkedIn.
This article was first published on LinkedIn by Richard Knight on 23/03/2020